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Passage: John 8;31-47
Introduction
This passage is in line with the series abiding in Christ based on John 15. The passage "Vine and the Branches" is addressed to His disciples as as encouragement for His disciples as a preparation for His departure. The picture that Jesus is portraying is the picture of intimacy and fruitfulness that comes from abiding as a vine draws from the branch. For this series we will be studying, what it means for a true follower of Christ to abide in Him.Abide in greek is "menò" and is a common word being use by Jesus in His teachings and this is how he describe the disciples whom he addressed John 15:3 to. "You have already been pruned by the message I have given you". It means the word of God prunes people by those who will remain in His words no matter the circumstances are. For our passage today we will look on the people whom he has given His words but fail to abide in His words and how they miss out John 15:3 so that we could learn from them and be identified by these two passages. John 15 and John 8.
The first verse tells everything about what this article is all about and that is "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful in my teaching." That is how John 15:3 made sense, this calling and in the next verse he show authority and purpose of His words. What the word can do for you is to set you free. His claims is that whether you believe or not that is the absolute truth and He is inviting these people to remain faithful in His words so that you will be set free. That is a bold statement of Christ for in that statement his words reveal the present condition of these people and that they are too blind to realize this. In v. 33 and 34 this is really evident that they're foundation of salvation is standing on thin ice and they are resisting for they don't want to accept the fact that it is true. Jesus speaking these words to them to reveal to them that in reality they are slaves of darkness, falsehood and sinful nature that they're blood relation with Abraham does not secure them of their salvation in the coming judgement. In v.35 and 36, He is presenting Himself as the only one who can change their present condition and that once they accept of their need of Him his words will be vital to assure them of this reality that He is offering. In the following verse they exhibit a heart of a person who don't want to accept that there is something wrong with them but that is just what His teachings do with us, it gives us the truth that we are sick and we need help not to mock us but to preserve us from the tails of sin and death.
The call in v. 31 is the call for true followers and that is their attributes, not just by believing but remaining faithful in His words. Sadly this people cannot respond with rejoicing on what is transpiring right in front of them because of their unbelief. They are entitled as God's people and any objection causes them to act in opposition. This is what is continually happens in this passage up to the point that they claim Him as not one of them as people of God. Jesus continually challenge them on their claims and continue to present the reality of His coming for the kingdom of heaven.This continues and we see that the word of God is truth and the people are ignorant of that truth.
Again Jesus did not back down but show to them the reason of their opposition that they are still dead in the spirit and they don't want to give up their ways. In v. 44 is shows the nature of a person's heart that a heart that is dead loves evil and will continually reject or rebel to God no matter how the truth is beings shoved to them. That is why the start of the ministry of Christ they preach of repentance. It's impossible without repentance to respond to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
To end this article I will be sharing a passage from John 6:61,62,66 and 68. Many are following Jesus and they are pruned again by his words when he start to teach the hard teachings about the kingdom of God and the centrality of Jesus on what is about to come. This people one by one stop following but the ones that remains and is present of the passage of John 15 where Jesus bid them farewell, says this "To whom would we go, you have the words that gave eternal life".
Apart from abiding in Him is nothing but death and Jesus' heart is to call His people to be preserved by His words. His words will prune us and will pierce our spirit but it is part of the process but His promise is eternal life in Him and he wants you to remain faithful and abide in His words.
Photo by: Nathaniel Callanta
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